Tell us about your music. How did you develop your sound?I guess my origin story is classical singing lessons from 11yrs old. Did all the musicals, came I think 4th in a singing competition singing Killing Me Softly at Penrith Panthers when I was 12. Big stuff. Then my first boyfriend introduced me to some great music like Willy Mason, Fiona Apple and Radiohead and I could see what I actually wanted to sound like. But I didn't pick up the guitar until I was about 20 when a friend wanted me to join her band. I just try and make sure it's a good song at it's core and then the sound just comes from whatever happens in the studio and whatever I'm listening to at the time probably! So really it's just been a few years of trial and error learning the instrument, writing a lot and figuring out a different way to say simple things.

What’s your greatest source of inspiration for making music?Wanting to be able to write about sex like Leonard Cohen.

What can punters expect from a Julia Jacklin live show?I think they can expect music, and swaying, occasional light head-banging, alcohol, Some loud bits, some really quiet bits, some good bits, some great bits.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given and who was it from?I've been reaching out a bit lately for some advice on songwriting. I asked a good friend of mine Adrian Slattery from one of my favourite Melbourne bands Big Smoke, if he had any advice on how to get over some writers block. He said something along the lines of, you just need to have an undying belief that you are a good songwriter and that you have the skills to make it happen. It sounds simple but sometimes you can just get so caught up in not feeling good enough that you give up before you even begin, who has time for that? I'm just going to start staring in the mirror and yelling, "you're a songwriter dammit!" I don't want to waste time doubting myself anymore.

What Australian track would you play to cheer up someone who was crying?Probably right now it would be 'I Wanna Be With You' by Flowertruck. The whole track makes me grin like a fool.

What Australian track would you play to someone to make them cry?Bring back some bedroom teenage tears with Grinspoons 'Better off Alone’.

You’re the DJ at a party. The dance floor is pumping. What Australian track do you put on next?Sampa the Great - 'Dutch Spring’.

What was the last local gig you went to? How was it?There's a great night every Thursday at the Sly Fox in Enmore. I went there last week and saw Triceratops and The Baldwins. The quality of the bands there each week is ridiculous and it's always packed no matter who’s playing which is super nice to see in Sydney right now. The Baldwins are one of my local faves, they don't play often but when they do I'm there with a massive grin on my face, trying to maintain my cool whilst struggling to dance consistently over their time signature changes.

Tell us about the bands or people in the NSW music community that inspire you.I'm surrounded by a great crew of people playing and hustling hard in Sydney right now. One of the great hustlers is Tom Stephens who is about to release his debut record which is going to be super ace, there's a band called NARLA which are one of the best live bands I've seen in ages. I want to be like them but I think I have to go back in time and practice a lot more. My Phantastic Ferniture band mates Ryan K Brennan and Elizabeth Hughes who are so multi talented and hardworking it makes my head spin. A singer songwriter Ainsley Farrell who writes these great songs and has this incredible depth to her voice. I saw The Pinheads the other day and it was so bizarre but it made me want to be a bit more fearless and weird on stage. Plus a million other people.

What are your plans for 2016?Touring the single, heading to the UK for Great Escape festival and some other things next month, and most importantly releasing my debut record around September.

Featured Artist

ESESE are a Melbourne-based funk/soul/hip hop collective led by vocalist and producer Hudson James Jr, and fronted by emcee Hancoq. They perform with between 8-11 members and this week, they perform as our Unearthed Feature Artist.

'Momentum', hosted by the Foreign Brothers - a little bi-weekly jam night at the Evelyn. It was mad, we got up and jammed with the band and somehow ended up in a late night studio session with Skomes drinking whiskey and writing.

Tell us about the bands or people in the Melbourne music community that inspire you.

The Melbourne music scene is so diverse it's a has a great source of inspiration a lot of which comes from our peers: The Core-tet, Baro, Hiatus Kaiyote, Raw Humps, Cazeaux Oslo, Rat and Co., Clever Austin, Hopium, 3070, Dead Set Ledger, Fortunes, Hoodlums, Alta and countless more...

What are your plans for the rest of 2015?

Play as many shows as possible, throw a free party, collaborate and finish Act 2/other projects.

Featured Artist

A.D.K.O.B are one of the winners of our Laneway competition and will be playing the festival in Sydney this Sunday, Feb 7. We asked them what we should expect from their set, they said "you're going to want to dance...".

It was just a natural reaction to my situation at the time. I was in a couple of other bands which I loved but I felt I had a lot of ideas I just couldn't fit anywhere, so I just had a go at recording them alone. What was supposed to be a mere experiment became a project of its own pretty quickly.

What’s your greatest source of inspiration for making music?

I suppose other music. But really, inspiration comes from every facet of life. Most of my ideas come of their own volition, often when I'm nowhere near an instrument so I have to record voice memos of me beat boxing or whistling, often in the most public and embarrassing places possible.

You’re one of the winners of our Laneway competition. What can punters at the Laneway fest in Sydney expect from the A.D.K.O.B live show?

You're going to want to dance, we are going to want to dance, it doesn't work as well if everyone just stares at us. I think we can get the early birds moving.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given and who was it from?

A friend once said that talent doesn't exist, and everything comes through hard work. It's a common one but I refer back to it a lot.

What Australian track would you play to cheer up someone who was crying?

Wide Open Road by The Triffids - it's melancholy but there's a light at the end of the tunnel: "now you can go anyplace that you wish to go"

What Australian track would you play to someone to make them cry?

Wide Open Road by The Triffids - as I said, the subject matter and instrumentation is melancholy as it gets.

You’re the DJ at a party. The dance floor is pumping. What Australian track do you put on next?

Wide Open Road by The Triffids - hence why I have never been invited to DJ anywhere.

What was the last local gig you went to? How was it?

I guess it was our rarefinds show at OAF, YEEVS and BADPONY also played. The crowd was amazing, the place was packed and the bands were awesome. It was a cracker; live music in Sydney is nowhere near dead.

Tell us about the bands or people in the Sydney music community that inspire you.

Patrick Delohery from a little band called "Disgusting People" - he changed the way I write and look at music. A talented songwriter and a very intelligent man.

Also Matt Amery, the songwriter for Tin Sparrow and Alan Smithy. He's one of my oldest friends and is wise beyond his years. He's always been my go-to for advice when it comes to current musical climates in oz, and has just been a great pal.

What are your plans for 2016?

Release a lot more music, tour like mofos and just try to enjoy the ride while it lasts! We are experiencing a small run of success at the moment and you never know when it's gonna end. So I guess we keep working hard and just enjoy it!

Artist

Featured Artist

Jess Kent has dropped one of the most infectious tracks of 2015, 'Get Down', and won herself a spot on the lineup for Sydney's Field Day festival, alongside Disclosure, Flight Facilities, The Wombats and more. Catch them all in The Domain on New Years Day.

I started playing the guitar and singing very early on by copying my Dad’s band members who would always be around rehearsing in the kitchen… Some of them were proper reggae rastas. They taught me some important lessons that still emanate through my music. I spent a lot of time busking and gigging with just a guitar, exploring lots of genres and finding my own flow. Plus I’ve always been a passionate creative writer, so writing stories and rhymes and poems definitely had an effect on the type of music I make.

What’s your greatest source of inspiration for making music?

Music is about communication first and foremost for me, so a song usually starts when thoughts manifest into lyrics (which is constantly!!). Specifically, it’s hard to pin down the source of the inspiration because it is everywhere and always. I’m very sensitive to mood and colours and always aim to paint a sonic picture to go hand in hand with the lyrics.

You’re the winner of our Field Day comp. What can punters at Field Day expect from your live show?

First of all, I still can't believe it's really happening - cannot WAIT! It’s going to be so exciting to perform the set for the first time ever with an amazing live band, and it’ll also be the first time I play some of my new music! All the support so far has been just incredible, so I’ll be looking forward to seeing some faces!

What’s the best advice you’ve been given and who was it from?

The best advice I have ever received was from my Grandma... ‘Work hard and keep it real…’

What Australian track would you play to cheer up someone who was crying?

Tell us about the bands or people in the Sydney music community that inspire you.

The sense of community in the Sydney scene is actually incredible. For real, the people that rock up to shows and are so passionate about supporting the local scene - they inspire me to strive to do my best. As far as bands, I’d say Sticky Fingers inspire me - they’re a homegrown Sydney band so it’s cool to watch how they’ve grown and kept it real.

What are your plans for 2016?

I'm writing heaps of new music so I can't wait to get into the studio again and start the recording process. And the live band will be fully up and running so looking forward to playing some more shows in 2016!

I've been exposed to music since the womb; my mum leads a church choir and you could probably find any genre you're looking for if you search hard enough in my dad's CD collection. My brother was originally a guitarist so he would strictly listen to Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rage Against the Machine and anything in that field. Music generally reflects the artist making it so I suppose that's why genre-blending is such a big aspect of my music.

What's your greatest source of inspiration for making music?

Emotions.

You're playing Laneway in Sydney for Unearthed. What can punters expect from a Genesis Owusu live show?

Kanye West once told me, "You see there's leaders and there's followers, but I'd rather be a dick than a swallower."

What Australian track would you play to cheer up someone who was crying?

If "WDUBI" by Baro doesn't dry your eyes I don't know what will.

What Australian track would you play to someone to make them cry?

My friend Charlesworth made this track called "In Need" which is so damn beautiful. King Krule vibes.

You're the DJ at a party. The dance floor is pumping. What Australian track do you put on next?

"Assumptions" by MANU CROOK$ absolutely SLAPS.

What was the last local gig you went to? How was it?

I did this really chill afternoon session on Sunday at a bar in Canberra called Akiba and it was such a pretty sight. Just people of all ages sitting around on a Sunday listening to jazz and rap, and people rapping on top of jazz; AND there was dumplings. What more could you want?

Tell us about the bands or people in the Canberra music community that inspire you.

Narit "Noodle" Kimsat is the prince of Canberra; he's not a musician but he's the organiser of anything and everything. And if he didn't organise it, he told you about it. Even if he didn't tell you about it, he'll still be there, handing you free dumplings or something (he's the one who organised the event from the last question).

My brother, Citizen Kay, essentially got me into the music scene and is still my sole recording engineer to this day. I have to give mad love to groups like Mondecreen and Brass Knuckle Brass Band for making super wild, cross-genre music and also for incorporating saxophones into their music (the saxophone is the sexiest instrument in human history, you CANNOT argue with me about this). People like Coda Conduct, Jimmy Pike and Jedbrii are some of the most fire spitters I've ever seen or heard. I could go on forever; basically the CBR ZOO is LIVE. Also #reecegurney.

What are your plans for 2017?

To make you see my face and hear my voice a whole lot more. I'm also thinking of starting a book club so if anyone's keen hmu.

I just listen to artists that I like, and how they get their personalities across through their music. I also recorded a bunch of songs that will never see the light of day, and worked my arse of until I was happy with how they sounded. With the beats, we tried to create a balance of organic sounds, with electronic bass instruments, though still trying to keep it as natural as possible.

What’s a Remi live show like?

If it’s up to my friends, wild as f**k! I love performing live, so I just get really amped and, usually, the crowd feeds off that and it results in pandemonium.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given and who was it from?

Everything that J Smith (producer) has ever told me. Except for when he tells me I should eat less Nando’s, then he doesn’t know what the f**k he’s talking about.

Tell us about the bands, producers and people in the Melbourne music community that inspire you.

I’m pretty lucky in the sense that the people who inspire me are in my team. Whether it is, Run For Your Life or the UY collective. J Smith has probably been my biggest inspiration/mentor. N’fa’s been like a brother and mentor. Syreneyiscreamy & Chris Scott’s voices make me pull my finger out on hooks. My homie Jarryd Williams, who is the other Leader of the UY collective, makes me hustle. Everyone else holds down his or her own instruments, whether it’s a camera or knowledge about the industry, and that makes you want to work harder. It’s basically my family (both real and musical) that inspires me, in the un-cheesiest way possible.

What’s coming up for you in 2012?

I’ve got a gig this Wednesday for Uncomfortable beats at Bar Open on Brunswick Street, that I’m pretty excited for. Heading up to Sydney this weekend to See Hau with the Run For Your Life peeps. Got some gigs in Perth during March, which will be siiiiiiick. Writing a bunch more tracks, and finding out how to make money by doing this music shit.

I love the art of poetry and hip hop will always have a poetic element to it. I developed my sound from a lot of overseas and Australian influences but rap is an art that you have to be able to pull off yourself and is therefore organic to yourself. I deliver my lyrics in a way that inspires me, challenges me and makes me want to sit up and take notice.

What’s your greatest source of inspiration for making music?

The hungry and ever present desire to write. Catharsis. And also wanting to share and build a connection with your audience. I want people to be inspired and touched by my music and my lyrics.

What can punters expect from a Sarah Connor live show?

Someone who wants to raise the bar, engage and delight. I've recently been working with Raine Supreme and we pulled off an awesome set at Thundamentals. I often jam on stage with fellow MC Madame Wu and also an amazing singer I've come across named Price Johnson. These girls bring the dynamite to the stage and make it a soulful, fun and lyrical evening any time we drop a performance. I do a mixture of shows to your usual hip hop audiences but will often incorporate spoken word into my sets. I love to bring the rawness that is real hip hop mixed with whatever I feel connects with the audience.

I much prefer group shows over the solo work as its really hard work up on stage by yourself knocking out every lyric. Im also part of a new crew called Universafly which has about 7 MCs, a producer and a DJ in it. It's a really mixed crew and I'm really looking forward to collaborating and smashing out some live shows with such an ensemble.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given and who was it from?

You can't do everything or address every problem or situation in the world. You need to pick one thing and focus on it and sort out what you are good at and use those skills to focus on what it is that you want to bring about change in. But when you make that decision, you need to be firm in it and devote your every waking hour to it. Only then will you do something truly great. - Nelson Mandela, at Rushcutters Bay in the year 2000.

What Australian track would you play to cheer up someone who was crying?

A toss up between Chandelier by Sia or Titanium by Sia - depending on how sad they were and how easily I could cheer them up. If I need to be more sombre and restrained about it, it would be Chandelier, if I was being flippant about it - it would be Titanium.

What Australian track would you play to someone to make them cry?

Brother by Thundamentals

You’re the DJ at a party. The dance floor is pumping. What Australian track do you put on next?

Lets make this a hip hop night.... which means the dancing may be awkward head nodding, but regardless, I'd chuck on something from Dylan Joel - either Numbers or his older track Set Us All Right. (Just to keep those hip hop heads guessing and vibing out to something fresh lol)

What was the last local gig you went to? How was it?

I went to Vent at Valve Bar (The old Agincourt at Broadway) and saw some local Sydney cats perform but also a performance by Solomon Childs, Wu Tang affiliate. Its the last Friday of every month and I've done a few shows there myself. Sometimes I even door bitch. It was a great night.

Tell us about the bands or people in the Sydney music community that inspire you.

I work with an amazing crew Universafly which has peeps from all over Sydney and the Central Coast from different backgrounds including some peeps who recently came from war torn countries and now live in Australia. The aim of the game for me is to get my freestyle skills up lol (next year) I am also inspired by a lot of hardworking artists that I am surrounded by in Sydney include Izzy and the Profit also T wreckz - who is an up and coming young hip hop artist from the Central Coast as well as other amaze peeps from Sydney including the Thundamentals, Daily Meds crew, Big Village. I was blessed to find an amazing singer for the Coma State track, Price Johnson. I can't wait to work with her more. Interstate I am inspired by the ground broken in hip hop by the Hilltop Hoods. Other noteable people that I keep an eye on are Briggs - he's made music I love. And K21, who I admire as a younger artist who has gone out and done his thing. I forever look at those who raised the bar and broke new ground and think 'what can I learn from them and go out and do it myself?'.

What are your plans for 2015?

2015 is the year I am putting out my EP. It should be 6-7 tracks. We are busy recording the final track which should be a banging posse track and then it will go for mix and master. I also want to follow the release up with an interstate tour, probably the East Coast of Australia and then see what other opportunities I've got to put out music with the people I love. I have never gigged outside of NSW so I am really keen to share my music with other fam interstate. I am always looking for opportunities to work with new people and hope to put out some banging tracks with them that can add to the music made in this country. I want to raise the bar, I want to do all those things. But most of all, I want to make great music that people enjoy. If I just do that, I can look back on this year and know that I did what I set out to achieve.

Artist

Featured Artist

This week's feature artist is Sophie Payten, better known as Gordi. Growing up on her Canowindra family farm 'Alfalfa' and sprouting (rare Alfalfa gag) up on Unearthed, the now Sydney based artist has integrated elements of electronica into her more folky roots with her stunning voice still taking centre stage.

I've been writing music for the best part of 10 years and it's developed through the music I listen to. From Missy Higgins and Megan Washington to Josh Pyke, The Tallest Man on Earth, Bon Iver and more recently Asgeir and #1 Dads. The kind of music I like has evolved from purely folk to incorporate more electronic elements and a real focus on vocal production.

What's your greatest source of inspiration for making music?

My personal life. I think as an artist you really have to expose the most hidden parts of yourself in order to write something that connects with people. Otherwise I look to things like poetry and films, particularly when I'm preoccupied with boring and mundane things. Like today I had to install my new dishwasher. Things like that don't seem to resonate as well with most people.

What can punters expect from a Gordi live show?

Good times and great classic hits. Or at the very least some pretty inoffensive electro-folk music. Depending on the show I either play with full band or a duo set. We try to emulate that "folktronica" vibe on stage by using acoustic instruments with synths and trigger pads. I think trigger pads are the key to surviving on a musicians budget these days, plus they're quite cool. Maybe eventually even my vocals will be on a trigger pad so I'll literally just stand on stage and press buttons. How's that for stage presence.

What's the best advice you've been given and who was it from?

With regards to music, the best advice I've been given was from Gregg Donovan from Wonderlick. I saw him speak at a conference and he said as an artist you should put your energy into the things you can control rather than worry about how everything will fall into place.

With regards to life, my Grandma's advice is that 'everything passes', and most importantly, 'it's not all beer and skittles'.

What Australian track would you play to cheer up someone who was crying?

I saw Megan Washington at the Metro a week ago. Honestly it was one of the best live shows I've ever seen. She's one of the best entertainers going round and such a consistent performer.

Tell us about the bands or people in the Sydney music community that inspire you.

I'm a big fan of Little May, Montaigne and Le Pie. They're 3 really great up and coming female artists out of Sydney and I think really reflect the surge in talented young female artists in Australia at the moment. I'm excited to see what's ahead in 2015 for each of them.

What are your plans for 2015?

A lot of touring! I'm about to start a tour supporting Winterbourne down the East Coast and some other exciting shows along the way, like the Spectrum Now Festival in the Domain and another show with Timberwolf. I've also finished recording 3 new tracks that I'll be dropping when the time is right, maybe with an EP mid-year. I've got a bunch of headline shows coming up too.

Artist

Featured Artist

Perth emcee/producer/singer/song psychologist Mathas is a thoughtful and skilled lyricist whose recent tracks have really impressed. He is the winner of our Southbound competition and will be opening The Sunny Stage of the festival on Saturday, January 4.

I’ve been performing and putting out music in Perth for over 10 years now. I suppose I've gradually been shaped into a begrudgingly optimistic pisstaker of world events, the Australian political climate and dietary habits. I guess I just say it as I see it.

You’re the winner of our Southbound competition and will be playing the fest in Busselton, WA on Saturday 4th Jan. What can the crowd at Southbound expect from the Mathas live show?

I’ll be playing out of a briefcase with a giant button attached to it, with some decorative props and a signature onstage goofballishness.

What are you most looking forward to about the festival?

It's been many years since I've played at a festival and also a long time since I last went to Southbound (2010) ... So getting to perform is highly important. I gotta tell you though, I'm pretty partial to the ol’ campers chai tent.

What are your plans for Mathas in 2014?

I’ll be putting out my sophomore album Armwrestling Atlas in the first half of 2014. That’s pretty much all I can think about at the moment... just get the frikkin album done.